OS X: Show hidden files and WTF to do with an ipsw file.

I just downloaded the iPhone OS 4.0 beta and have no idea what to do with the resulting ipsw file. Apple was awesome enough not to include any obvious directions. So after searching Google, I came across some forums that recommended the following:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder

That didn’t show the files that were supposed to appear at ~username/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates/ and Finder looked dirty so I reran the above command using FALSE instead of TRUE.

Ultimately, I successfully installed the new iPhone OS by following the directions outlined at felixbruns.de: I pressed option-click on the Restore button in iTunes and selected iPhone1,2_4.0_8A230m_Restore.ipsw. Good times!

Chrissy is a Cloud and Datacenter Management & Data Platform MVP who has worked in IT for over 20 years. She is the creator of the popular SQL PowerShell module dbatools, and holds a number of certifications, including those relating to SQL Server, Linux, SharePoint and network security. You can follow her on Twitter at @cl.

One comment on “OS X: Show hidden files and WTF to do with an ipsw file.”

3G or 3GS? My scrub-ass 3G isn’t getting along with it just yet and I haven’t figured out how to blackmail someone to buy me a 3GS. Waiting for this summer and the new tech refresh is going to be preeeety tough.